Do I go with the safe or contentious name?

[Rjd13]

A few weeks ago I posted about the name Tabitha. It’s my favourite but the response on MN was mixed and the reaction from my nearest and dearest even worse.

My OH and I had originally picked the name Ivy before we thought of Tabitha, but we’re worried that it’s too common and similar to your Ava’s and Evie’s etc

So my question is do I go with the name that is a bit more unusual but often disliked, or the one that is more liked but also more used? We love both but we are struggling to settle!

Tabitha Jane/Tabitha Rose

Or

Ivy Elizabeth?

Although to come back to this I think Tabea is gorgeous. German form of Tabitha afaik.

Tabitha Rose.

I love Tabitha.

Love Tabitha but do also like Ivy...
go with Tabitha if you love it. Its a marmite name so remember for every person you hear slate it another will absolutely love it!

I don't think Tabitha is contentious at all, and Ivy has only recently been widely used.

I like both, but would be inclined to go with Tabitha as Ivy is very popular at the moment.

Tabitha Rose - I wanted this name too! But DH said no...

Please choose it.

100 per cent Tabitha!

Tabitha.
Either Jane or Rose suits it.

Tabitha. Great name, not very common but still well known.

Definitely Tabitha Jane.

Ivy Elizabeth gets my vote!

Not a fan of Tabitha, but if you like it, You could always go Tabitha with a nn of Thea if you feel Tabitha is a bit unusual for your area?

I far prefer Ivy! It’s not cutesy & will suit a child or adult yet isn’t as common as Rose or Daisy. My great-gran was Ivy so I may be a bit biased but I do think it is classier, especially paired with Elizabeth Tabitha is quite cutesy and far trendier than Ivy, though it really does depend on your surname.

Tabitha Rose is lovely.

I actually know an Ivy Elizabeth. She’s a 92yo great grandmother!

Tabitha

If both parents like it, it's not contentious. Naming your baby isn't a democratic process for the whole family. Do they all have perfect names, or are there some 70s/80s shockers among them?
Pick the name you love the most.

Presumably your mum chose your name? She should let you choose your baby's name without interfering or criticising.

Tabitha hands down and stop involving your mum.

Tabitha Jane (TJ) is a great name!

Adore Tabitha

Love love love Tabitha. I was going to go for it for my little girl but like you was put off by the marmite reactions to it. In some ways I wish I'd stuck with it although there is now a Tabitha on MIC which might reinforce it's reputation as being posh. Ivy is very pretty as well but definitely on the up.

I do like the name Tabitha but I have to say it does remind me of a cat. Much prefer Tabitha Rose, Jane was the go to middle name for anyone born in the 70s/80s.
Ivy also a lovely name.

Tabitha all the way . Much classiet than Ivy.

Don't like Ivy

Tabitha.
In the nicest possible way your mum has nothing to do with naming your child. This is why people announce the name when baby is here. You can choose to call them “poopoohead” if you want and the response should be “that’s nice”. Honestly stop discussing and running makes past family.
You want Tabitha so that’s what she’ll be.

The thing is, any well-liked name is obviously going to be more common. And any less common name is obviously going to be less universally liked!

If you want to use a not-so-common name, you have to accept some people won't like it. That's ok. Not everyone has to like it, and at the end of the day it's just a name.

My best friend gave her DS1 a name that in my opinion is not a nice name at all! (it's about 400th in the UK list). But it doesn't change my relationship with her or her son in the slightest. And I don't even think about it any more, it's just his name.